Thursday, September 02, 1999
Ludlow mayor denied his say
Lawyers: It's not on agenda
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LUDLOW — A special meeting of Ludlow City Council was in recess before it really got started Wednesday night.
Council members waited for attorneys and fought over what could be discussed in a special meeting for almost an hour before debate over the 1999-2000 budget began.
Mayor Tom Stacy wanted to read a statement concerning comments made by other council members earlier this week about his performance.
The city attorney and an attorney hired by five council members to advise the city on financial matters had to borrow a Kentucky Revised Statutes book to debate the issue.
The two ultimately decided the statement should not be read because it was not listed on the special meeting agenda. The Kentucky Enquirer, however, obtained a copy.
“As a citizen of Ludlow, a former councilman and current mayor, I have only desired the best for my city,” the mayor's statement read.
“I still do. What I believe is best for my city is that I remain as mayor and assert
my authority as mayor.”
He went on to say that he conducted himself honestly and that he was disappointed in the “wild threats and allegations” against him.
Council member Ron Wofford asked for his resignation earlier this week.
“He's ineffective in the capacity of mayor in my judgment,” Mr. Wofford said Wednesday night. He denied saying he would “publicly embarrass” the mayor if he did not resign. He wanted to clarify that certain “specifics” would come out that would embarrass him.
Mr. Wofford would not elaborate, but said he would soon make a public statement to that effect.
The mayor said in the statement that he would not resign and that he had hired Eric Deters, yet another attorney, to represent him personally.
“I will not tolerate any more slander or libel,” the statement continued. “I will not tolerate any more personal attacks. I will use all legal options available to defend myself and the office of mayor.”
After all these preliminaries, council did make some progress on the budget, which was supposed to be ready when the fiscal year began July 1.
Ludlow Police Chief Tom Collins presented his budget to council, and Mr. Wofford went over the possibility of Sanitation District No. 1 taking over the city's water system. Mr. Wofford works for the sanitation district; that has been questioned in fliers circulating around the city.
The sanitation district set up a committee to review the idea and members took the issue to the board, which verbally approved the contract, Mr. Wofford said. Attorneys are now drafting a contract, which could be ready in about a week.
The next special meeting to discuss the budget is scheduled for Sept. 9.
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